Every bird counts: The value of individual tracking in poultry

Poultry management often focuses on flock-level data – e.g., livability, egg production, water use, etc. – or individual bird data that is inferred from averages across the flock – e.g., average daily gain, estimated feed intake/bird, average body weight, etc. Other livestock industries have implemented individual animal identification methods, such as ear tags or wearable technology, to provide individualized care and make genetic decisions. In poultry, it may not be economically or logistically feasible to implement individual identification for all birds in a flock due to larger group sizes, shorter life spans, and lower economic value per animal compared to other livestock industries. Nevertheless, tracking a portion of individual animals in research and commercial poultry flocks offers insight to improve management practices and animal welfare. Read more